Trussville has a paid, full-time fire department and a volunteer department. Ledbetter and Reasonover both work for the paid department.

Councilors went into an executive session after regular business was taken care of, and made the announcement upon coming out, prior to officially closing the meeting.

Originally, the council went into executive session alone with with city attorney Whit Colvin. Within minutes, Colvin returned to the council chambers to invite councilmen-elect Zach Steele and Jef Freeman to join the executive session. A short time later, Colvin again returned to chambers to invite mayor Gene Melton to join the executive session.

“Information has come to our attention and it has become necessary for us to look further in to this,” Council President Anthony Montalto said.

Councilman Alan Taylor made a motion that an external law firm be hired to conduct the investigation of the Trussville Volunteer Fire Department.

Taylor’s motion also authorized Melton to place Ledbetter and Reasonover on paid administrative leave.

“For the record, no one has been found guilty of anything, this is just an investigation,” Montalto said. “We want to make this clear and hopefully we’ll get good results.”

Assistant Fire Chief Tim Shotts will be in charge during the investigation.

I have the greatest respect and admiration for Russell and Steve. Both men have represented Trussville well and done so much for the community that most people will never hear about because they dont toot their own horn!